CASE STUDY / GAS COMPRESSOR PIPING INSTALLATION

POWER PLANT UPGRADES IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES AND PERFORMANCE

After 10 years of operating, the Los Esteros Energy Facility in San Jose, California, needed an upgrade. In order to convert from a single‑cycle facility into a combined-cycle facility, help was needed installing the new steam turbine, gas compressor and piping.

PROJECT STATS

CLIENT
LG Constructors — CH2M Hill

LOCATION
San Jose, California

COMPLETION DATE
2013

CHALLENGE

The Los Esteros Critical Energy Facility, in San Jose, California, began operations in 2003 with four turbines and a 188-megawatt capacity. Over time, the power plant required upgrades to increase capacity and improve environmental efficiencies, and needed help converting from a simple‑cycle into a combined-cycle facility.

 

309

MEGAWATT FACILITY
 

125

MEGAWATT STEAM TURBINE AND GENERATOR
 

45K+

FEET OF PIPE FABRICATED AND INSTALLED

SOLUTION

A decade later, our team performed a new erection of the steam turbine and the balance of the plant piping and equipment for the power plant.

The project included the installation of a 125-megawatt Mitsubishi steam turbine and generator, along with associated piping and equipment. The piping scope for the turbine consisted of 400 feet of carbon and stainless lube oil and hydraulic oil piping. In addition, we addressed the fuel gas compressor and related piping.

For the balance of the plant, fabrication and installation was completed including 5,200 feet of critical pipe, 25,000 feet of noncritical small bore pipe, 15,000 feet of noncritical large bore pipe and equipment erection. The critical piping system is made up of high-pressure steam, cold reheat steam and hot reheat steam. The noncritical systems included boiler blowdown, boiler feedwater, aux cooling water, fuel gas and circulating cooling water. In addition to balance of plant piping and equipment, AZCO installed a 70,000-pound compressor.

Furthermore, a fabrication shop was built on-site to more efficiently rebuild and replace pipe for the project, saving costs and time.

 

Read The Case Study

SOLUTION

A decade later, our team performed a new erection of the steam turbine and the balance of the plant piping and equipment for the power plant.

The project included the installation of a 125-megawatt Mitsubishi steam turbine and generator, along with associated piping and equipment. The piping scope for the turbine consisted of 400 feet of carbon and stainless lube oil and hydraulic oil piping. In addition, we addressed the fuel gas compressor and related piping.

For the balance of the plant, fabrication and installation was completed including 5,200 feet of critical pipe, 25,000 feet of noncritical small bore pipe, 15,000 feet of noncritical large bore pipe and equipment erection. The critical piping system is made up of high-pressure steam, cold reheat steam and hot reheat steam. The noncritical systems included boiler blowdown, boiler feedwater, aux cooling water, fuel gas and circulating cooling water. In addition to balance of plant piping and equipment, AZCO installed a 70,000-pound compressor.

Furthermore, a fabrication shop was built on-site to more efficiently rebuild and replace pipe for the project, saving costs and time.

Download Case Study

ABOUT AZCO

AZCO is a 100% employee-owned heavy industrial construction and fabrication solutions provider that builds the critical infrastructure needed to keep communities and industries thriving. Part of the Burns & McDonnell family of companies, we work with more than 750 union craft personnel across the country using an integrated approach to deliver more advanced controls and predictable outcomes. Learn how we are designed to build at azco-inc.com.

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